It is really feasible to do 4 "hard" A levels?

[Kazzyhoward]

DS is forecast grades 8 and 9 in his GCSEs across the board. He is wanting to take all 3 sciences and Maths at A level. These are the subjects he enjoys. At this stage (argh!), he has no clue about what career he wants to go into! School/teachers seem happy enough to let him do them with the usual warnings of them being hard subjects etc. Just wondering if any parents/teachers have experience of kids doing these 4 A levels and whether it's realistically feasible to get decent passes. My personal view is to run for the hills and choose just 3 A levels of a different mix, maybe one science, Maths, and a humanity or economics/business studies, but perhaps that would do him a great dis-service. Very difficult when he hasn't a clue about career nor what degree subject he'll take at uni.

Fredo, most do. Its just that on a small number of very oversubscribed courses, entry requirements can become more complicated.

Giraffe, you are right in that medical courses often don't want double maths as two of your three, not least because many are looking for two sciences. However extra learning rarely comes amiss and FM would do no harm as a fourth and can help. For example Birmingham would give you a three A offer, rather than A*AA if you offer four.

DD is considering intercalating in bio-medical engineering, and indeed may well have opted for it at UG level had she not have got her medicine place. Having five A levels including maths, electronics (maybe soft - maybe just a different skill set. Robot wars in the class room!) and physics both kept the doors open and allowed her to talk credibly at interview about the areas of medicine she was interested in.

It used to be that if your maths was good enough Imperial allowed medics to intercalate on the Masters programme. This option seems to have gone, though they continue to say each applicant will be judged on their merits. However I understand some branches of academic medicine are becoming ever more mathematical and so a natural mathematician who would not be overly challenged by taking FM as a fourth A level, ought to consider it. Both for the future flexibility within medicine and to allow greater flexibility should they change their minds.

No links but in Economics Durham doesn't count FM.

Or didn't.

Newbie here. DD1 has just got her results today for Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths and English. She worked really hard and achieved A or A in all of them and is now heading for Cambridge. She also holds an A in General Studies and A at AS in Critical Thinking.

To answer the OP, it is possible but you have to work really hard and have a genuine love and aptitude for those subjects. The new GCSEs mean that there will be less of a jump up to A level than at present. DD held offers for 4 A levels (most ignored English as she applied for a science subject), which surprised some of her teachers.

Lots depends on whether or not your DS will be taking AS levels. DD did AS in Maths and Further Maths, intending to drop FM if she got a C or lower. When she realised she could do it, she kept going.

Congrats to your DD. Which college?

Congrats to your Dd... it's reassuring to hear that it is possible to do 5 A levels and manage the work load. Is she going to do Nat sci in Cambridge?

His choices are fine, but I would suggest doing biology and chemistry, English, and then choosing between maths and physics (don't really need both!) -- I think having English is important. Communication in science is very important.

Thank you. DD is going Selwyn College to read Natural Sciences.

She hardly had any free periods in year 13 and has a strong work ethic. However, she is not a one-trick pony - she dances and does a lot of music. The autumn term was ridiculous as she took grade 8 ballet and her driving test on the same day, then had interviews at Imperial, Bath and Cambridge , then took grade 8 cello (all within 4 weeks!) I told her she was bonkers to try to do it all, but somehow she did and passed everything.

Well done to your Dd..she must be really thrilled. Good luck to her.
Do you mind if I pm you?

@ProfessorLayton no, but as I only just joined, I'm not even sure how PMs work...

No problem...Malbecfan.
It is a personal message . my daughter has just done her GCSE s ( predicted good grades...from fingers crossed for the results which is due in a weeks time)and interested in Natural sciences at Cambridge.
Her A level choices are french, Maths , FM, chemistry and biology.
Like your Dd she is a busy girl - with grade 8 in two instruments ( cello and piano)and balances other extra curricular activities as well.I just needed some general advice but did not want to overtake this thread for this- that's all.

@ProfessorLayton, sorry, I meant no, I don't mind you PMing me!

I'm just not quite sure how you access them on here and as there has just been an almighty roll of thunder, I might leave unexpectedly if the broadband goes off...

Thanks
Will do...
It will appears as in your profile in the in box.

Really 'academic types' can cope with 5 or even 6 A Levels, so I think your son will be fine with the complementary subjects he seems interested in.
I am looking on mytutor.co.uk at the moment for someone to help my DD with IGCSE Maths (which she LOATHES with a passion) and the majority of the tutors I'm investigating seem to have done at least 5 A Levels (and achieved A* - A in all of them). A number of 6thFormers at DDs school also take 5 A Levels. Astonishing!!

I'm super-impressed with people who enjoy studying so much, but it takes all types to make a world.

There don't seem to be that many who chose 5 or 6 humanities/creative subjects though. Imagine the workload would be too punishing as Milliways DD found.

Good luck to OPs DS in choosing.